Islamophobic approaches in Turkey (1980-2000)

This thesis examines Islamophobic approaches that took place between 1980 and 2000 in Turkey. Islamophobia is generally seen as a problem specific to non-Muslim countries. The thesis aims to show that Islamophobia can exist not only in countries where Muslims are minorities, but also in countries where the majority of the population defines themselves as Muslims. Islamophobia is detemined through a historical periodization. Which is based on four components such as prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and violence. In the first part of the thesis, the importance of Islamophobia and anti-Islamism in international literature is explained and concepts are explained. In addition, basic indicators of islamophobia are described. The second part deals with how islamophobia has been processed in Turkey. The prejudice between 1980 and 1997 is explained as Islamophobia in the context of exclusion. In the third part of the thesis, the period after 1997 is described as a period of violence. This exemplification is based on discrimination and acts of violence by public institutions such as the army, the interior ministry, the ministry of national education and universities, and various non-governmental organizations. In this study, the explanations of politicians and soldiers, newspapers and cartoons are analyzed to support the argument seen. Descriptive analysis and content analysis methods were used in the thesis. In the thesis, it was concluded that the people who lived religious life between 1980 and 2000 were subjected to islamophobia and anti-Islamism in the context of prejudice, discrimination, exclusion and violence.